Acetylene-gas generator.



Patented Ian. 9, I900.

w. c. STERNE. ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Feb. 11, 1899.)

2 SheetsShaet L (No Model.)

ammo/whet r v I 3515 4; GHQ cum No. 64l,243. Patented Jan. 9, I900. W.C. STERNE.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(An lication filed Feb. 11, 1899.\

2 Sheets$heet 2.

(No Model.)

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PATENT IVILLIAM O. STERNE, OF LITTLETON, COLORADO.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

'srncrrrcn'rroiv forming art of Letters Patent No. 641,243, datedJanuary 9, 1906.

Application filed February 11, 1899. Serial No. 705,285. (No model.)

invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in acetylene-gas machines, myobject being to provide a device of this class which shall be simple inconstruction, economical in cost, reliable, durable, and efficient inuse; and to these ends the invention consists of the features,arrangements, and combinations here inafter described and claimed, allof which will be readily understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine.Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken through the same.

Fig. 3is asection taken on the line X X, Fig. 2. Fig. A is alongitudinal section taken through the watertrap. Fig. 5 is a sectiontaken through the upper part of the gasometer. Figs. 6 and 7 are detailsof construction.-

Similar reference characters indicating corresponding parts in theviews, let the numeral 5 designate the stationary cylindrical casing,provided with two horizontal partitions A and B. The compartment abovethe partition A is the largest and containsthe necessary water for usewith apparatus of this character. The partition A is provided withopenings communicating with wells 5, which project into the compartment5 and are suspended from the partition. The portion 5 of the casingbelow the partition B is only em ployed to raise the water tank orreceptacle to the desired height above the generator for supplying waterto the latter. Attached to the partition A and projecting upwardly intothe water-tank is a vertical pipe 16, whose upper extremity projectsabove water-level. This pipe 16 telescopes in a larger pipe 15,

attached to the top of the gasometer 6. The lower extremity of the pipe15 is open and provided with a weight 15. Hence the water rises in thetube'15 to the level of the water in the tank. In the tube 16, ashortdistance below the water-line, is formed an opening 16. Attached to thetop of the gasometer and projecting downwardly into the tube 16, whoseupper extremity is open, is a small pipe 20, whose lower extremity isopen and provided with washers 20 which fill the tube 16 and form a sortof piston, preventing the water from passing below the washers exceptthrough the pipe 20, which is provided with a small opening 20, locateda short distance below the opening 16, through which the water entersthe pipe 20 and passes thence into the bottom of the pipe 16, from whichleads the water-supply pipe 13 to the spraying device 10, located-in thegenerator 7 above the carbid-holder 9, which is composed of wire screenand mounted on a shaft 8, journaled in the casing of the generator. Inthe top of the generator 7 is formed an opening through which the carbidis passed to the holder 9, the latter being provided with a hinged door9, which is opened to receive the carbid. This opening in the top of thegenerator is closed by a cover 12. The ashes are removed from thegenerator through an opening formed in the lower part thereof andnormally closed by a cover 7 The gas passes from the generator into apipe 24 and thence by way of a pipe 23 to the compartment 5 of thecasing 5. In this compartment the gas is cooled by coming in contactwith the walls of the wells 5 and the partition A. After the compartment5 is filled with gas under a certain pressure the gas passes upwardlythrough an open-ended pipe 14 into the gasometer 6 above the water inthe tank 5 and raises the gasometer. If the generation of gas exceedsthe consumption or demand, the inverted gasometer-tank will continue torise until the opening 20 of the pipe 20 is above the water-level. Whenthis occurs, the water is shut off from the carbid-holder and thegeneration of gas ceases until suflicient gas has been used to allow thegasometer to move downwardly far enough to bring the hole 20 again belowthe waterlevel.

Then using the gas, it is taken from the compartment or chamber 5, whichcommunicates with the gasometer by way of an openended pipe 14, asheretofore explained. From the chamber 5 the gas passes by way of ashort pipe 28 to the trap 28, which receives the water of condensation.This trap consists of a small tank having openings in both ends. Thelower opening is surrounded by a seat which a valve 32 is adapted toengage. This valve is attached to a stem 32, which extends into pipesattached to the respective extremities of the trap. To this stem is alsoattached a float 32. The function of this trap is to receive anddischarge the water of condensation. The gas when it leaves thegenerator is laden with a considerable quantity of vapor of water, whichis condensed in the chamber 5 and passes into the trap. When this wateraccumulates sufficiently to raise the float 32 and unseat the valve 32,the water escapes from the bottom of the trap through an outlet 28 untilthe float again falls and allows the valve to resume its seat. The floatis located sufficiently above the water to maintain a water seal in thetrap and prevent the escape of gas through the water-outlet 28. The gasenters the trap near its upper extremity and passes thence through anoutlet-pipe 29, which leads from the top of the trap to the locationwhere it is to be used. This pipe 29 is provided with a stop-cock 30 toregulate or entirely cut cit the flow of gas through the pipe 29.

Surrounding the upper part of the tube 15 is a loose sleeve 17,supported by a collar 15, attached to the tube. To this sleeve issecured a horizontal piece of pipe 17, to one extremity of which isattached a depending pipe 18, whose lower extremity is open and normallylocated below the water-level. The opposite extremity of the pipe 17 isconnected with the upper end of a larger depending pipe 19, whose lowerextremity is also submerged. A pipe 21 whose lower extremity is attachedto the partition A, projects upward into the pipe 19. The upperextremity of the pipe 21 is open and located above the water-level. Iffor any reason the heretofore-described devices for checking the flow ofwater to the generator should fail to work and the generation of gasshould continue, causing the gasometer to rise after the hole 20 of thepipe 20 is above the water-level, as soon as the lower extremity of thepipe 18 passes out of the water the gas will escape by way of said pipe,the pipe 17, and the pipe 21, which is provided with an opening 22,which leads to an external pipe 26, which passes upwardly, allowing thegas to escape to the open air. Connected and communicating with the pipe26 below the opening 22 is a trap 26, which is also connected with thepipe 28 by a pipe 27. This trap provides an escape for the water ofcondensation, which otherwise might accumulate in and stop the escape ofgas by way of said safety-pipe 21, and the water therein at the sametime forms a seal against the escape of gas in this direction, it beingdesirable that the gas should escape upward and pass out of thebuilding.

The pipe 23, which conducts the gas from the generator to the chamber 5,is provided with a check-valve 23, which allows the gas to pass throughthe pipe to the said chamber, but prevents its return. If for any reasonthis check-valve should fail to perform its function and the passage ofgas from the generator through the pipe 23 should be cut off, anexplosion would result if no means were provided to prevent such anaccident.

The pipe 24: is connected with a trap 31, whose bend contains a shallowmercury seal sufficient to prevent the gas under normal conditions frompassing therethrough. In case, however, the check-valve should becomestopped this seal would immediately yield and allow the gas to passtherethrough to a pipe 25, which leads to the upper extremity of thepipe 26, and make its escape.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim is- 1. In anacetylene-gas machine the combination, with the generator, thewater-supply pipe and the gasometer, of a tube projecting upwardly intothe water-tank and provided with an opening located below thewater-level, a pipe attached to the gasometer and projecting into theopen end of the said tube and having an opening normally below thewaterlevel whereby the water from the tube is allowed to enter saidpipe, whose lower extremity is open to allow the water topass to thelower part of the tube, means to prevent the water from passing into thelower portion of the tube except by way of said pipe, and awater-conduit leading from the lower portion of the tube to thegenerator.

2. In an acetylene-gas machine the combi nation, with the generator, thewater-supply pipe and the gasometer, of a tube projecting upwardly intothe water-tank and provided with an opening located below the waterlevel, a pipe attached to the gasometer and projecting into the open endof the said tube, and having an opening normally below the water-levelwhereby the water from the tube is allowed to enter said pipe, whoselower extremity is open to allow the water to pass to the lower part ofthe tube, the pipe being provided with means performing the function ofa piston to prevent the water from passing into the lower portion of thetube except by way of said pipe, and a water-conduit leading from thelower portion of the tube to the generator.

3. The combination, with a generator, a gasometer, and the water-supplytank, of a chamber located below the water-tanlqcooling-wells located insaid chamber and communicating with the water-tank, a conduit connectingsaid chamber with the gas-space of the gasometer, a conduit leading fromthe generator to said chamber, and another conduit leading from saidchamber to the locality where the gas is to be used.

4. The combination, with a generator, a gasometer, and the water-supplytank, of a chamber located below the water-tank, cooling-wells locatedin said chamber and communicating with the water-tank, a conduitconnecting said chamber with the gas-space of the gasometer, a conduitleading from the generator to said chamber, another conduit leading fromsaid chamber to the locality where the gas is to be used, and aninterposed water-trap through which the gas passes.

5. The combination, with a generator, a gasometer, and the water-supplytank, of a chamber located below the Water-tank, cooling-wells locatedin said chamber and communicat-ing with the Water-tank, a conduitconnecting said chamber with the gas-space of the gasometer, a conduitleading from the generator to said chamber, another conduit leading fromsaid chamber to the locality where the gas is to be used, an interposedwater-trap through which the gas passes, said trap being provided with aValve, and a float attached to the valve-stem whereby the sur plus wateris allowed to escape, a Water seal however being maintained for thepurpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM C. STERNE.

Witnesses:

J. H. BOEKENFELD, NELLIE G. DANIELS.

